CM Tuki exhorts ITBP to develop Arunachal border areas

Arunchal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki today exhorted the ITBP authorities to develop border areas and work in the interest of Arunachalees living in border areas while guarding the frontier.

Tuki's exhortation came when Indo-Tibetan Border police inspector general of police R K Saini accompanied by DIG Ajay Pal Singh and sector commandant Manish Kataria called on the former in his office chamber here late Friday evening.

While discussing matters relating to Sino-Indian border areas where the ITBP has replaced the Assam Rifles since 2004, Tuki lauded the yeoman's service of the ITBP in the tough and hilly terrain

Tuki said he has visited the last border posts, including Lumla, Bumla Pass, Lada, Damin, Sarli, Huri, Taksing, Mechuka, Yarlung, Monigong, Tuting and Damben etc, and was aware of the hardship in those areas. Of the about 3,500 km Sino-India border, Arunchal shares 1080 km border.

Considering the hardship of the people, Tuki said he had announced a circle HQ at Damben in Dibang Valley district bordering China and Rs 1 crore has been earmarked for its development. He suggested the ITBP officers to work for the greater welfare of the border people.

Saini informed that ITBP has been taking up various programmes including supplying essential material, solar lights, books, bags, furniture to schools, conducting medical camps and providing free medicines under BADP and civic action programmes as the central government has an avowed policy for the development of the sensitive border state.

When the CM asked about the recruitment policy, Saini disclosed that about 200 youths have been recruited from the border districts under a special drive after the youths were trained.

The chief minister suggested that mini and micro hydel and wind mill projects are feasible which would be of mutual interest for the force as well as the locals.

"I have been appraising the defence and home ministers about various inherent problems of the state and any proposal sent by the ITBP would receive the Centre's nod," the CM informed them.

The ITBP officers earlier called on the state Governor Nirbhay Sharma at Raj Bhawan here. By Pradeep Kumar (ANI)